Lorry driver jailed after deadly M11 crash sparked by driver fatigue
Sleepy trucker triggers three-vehicle smash on M11
Ivan Zhyhan, a lorry driver, has been handed a two-year and four-month prison sentence following a horrific crash on the M11. The collision involved three vehicles near Harlow, Essex, on February 13, 2019, and left one motorist with life-changing injuries.
Crash details and dashcam evidence reveal dangerous driving
The court heard how Zhyhan, behind the wheel of an articulated lorry, struggled to stay awake and slammed into a stationary Renault Kangoo van. The impact pushed the van into another lorry, causing devastating injuries to the van’s driver. These included skull fractures, a brain bleed, and multiple broken ribs, vertebrae, neck and shoulder bones.
At the time, lane closure warnings were active, and traffic was crawling. The van’s hazard lights were flashing, yet Zhyhan claimed he only spotted the vehicle a mere 20 metres before impact. Dashcam footage from inside the cab showed Zhyhan’s desperate attempts to keep awake before the smash.
Conviction and driving ban for careless lorry driver
After a seven-day trial, Zhyhan was found guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. The judge sent him behind bars for two years and four months and handed down a three-year driving ban. That ban will continue until Zhyhan passes another driving test, ensuring he’s fit to get back on the road.
Victim’s ordeal and police warning
The victim spent a month in hospital battling life-threatening injuries. PC Alan Marks praised the injured driver for his cooperation during the investigation and stressed the whole tragedy could have been avoided if Zhyhan had taken a break when he felt tired.
